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About Colorectal Cancer
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Cancer Screening Saves Lives
Colorectal cancer is a leading killer in the United States. But it doesn't have to be. Routine screening for colorectal cancer, beginning at age 45, can save lives!
Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Colorectal cancer is cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum. The colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.
If you're 45 or older, getting a colorectal cancer screening test could save your life.
Here's how:
Colorectal cancer usually starts from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn't be there. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer.
Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.
Who Gets Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer occurs most often in adults who are 45 years or older, and the risk increases with age. If you are 45 or older, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened.
You may be at increased risk if:
- You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
You have inflammatory bowel disease, Chrohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.
You have a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
People at increased risk for colorectal cancer may need earlier or more frequent tests. If you think you may be at increased risk, talk to your healthcare provider about the routine screening tests that are right for you.
What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
Someone could have colorectal cancer and not know it. People do not always have symptoms, especially at first (or in early stages).
If there are symptoms, they may include:
Change in your bowel habits
Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement)
Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don't go away
Unexplained weight loss
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any of these symptoms.
Which Test is Right for You?
You have different screening options. Talk to your healthcare provider about which tests are right for you and how often you should be screened.
What are the Types of Screening Tests?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of medical experts, recommends that adults who are 45 to 75 years old be screened for colorectal cancer. The decision to be screened between the ages of 76 and 85 should be made on an individual basis. If you are older than 75, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened. Several different screening tests can be used to find polyps or colorectal cancer. They include:
Stool Tests- Guaiac-based Fecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBT): Uses a checmical guaiac to detect blood. This method is also called gFOBT. If you choose this method, ask your healthcare provider for a high sensitivity gFOBT.
- Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): Uses antibodies to detect blood. If you choose this method, ask your healthcare provider for an IFOBT or FIT (Fecal Immonochemical Test).
- FIT-DNA Test (or Stool DNA Test) combines the FIT with a test to detect altered DNA in stool. You collect an entire bowel movement and send it to a lab to be checked for cancer cells.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (Flex Sig)
The healthcare provider inserts a short, thin, flexible tube tinto your rectum and checks for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and lower third of the colon.
Colonoscopy
Similar to flexible sigmoidoscoy, except the healthcare provider uses a longer, thin, flexible, light tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the entire colon. During the test, the healthcare provider can find and remove most polyps and some cancer. A colonoscopy may also be used as a follow-up test if one of the other screening tests finds anything unsusal.
CT Colonography (Virtual Colonoscopy)
Computed tomography (CT) colonography, also called a virtual colonoscopy, uses x-rays and computers to produce images of the entire colon. The images are displayed on a computer screen for the healthcare provider to analyze.
Your healthcare provider will discuss your test results with you. Depending on your results, you may need a follow-up appointment or another screening test.
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